Taking Our Tiny Home Into The Danger Zone
Que up Kenny Loggins because we’re headed to the DANGER ZONE! We spent the better part of a month anchored in Tahiti attempting to tackle a boat load of projects and prepare for the Tuamotus or AKA, The Dangerous Archipelago.
Our Curiosity may be a tiny home, but she’s still a sailboat and it is a full time job to keep her afloat. She is coming up on her 15th birthday and I think she is feeling it. We’ve racked up thousands of nautical miles over the past several months and the poor girl needed some TLC before taking on any more big adventures. Especially a journey into the danger zone!
The Tuamotu archipelago is a string of 77 stunning (but tiny) atolls spread over 930 miles in the South Pacific. Most are so low lying they’re no taller than a palm tree. As you might guess, they are incredibly hard to spot from a distance. Blink twice and you’ll think it was nothing more than a mirage.
Add in cautionary tales of ripping currents and narrow passes colliding with coral head studded lagoons and it’s easy to see why sailors call it the Dangerous Archipelago.
But, despite all that, it’s considered a paradise seekers mecca. And, there have been a few thousand sailors who have charted the way for us since the days of Magellan and Captain Cook. Should be a piece of cake, right?
What are you waiting for, click the play button and we’re…🎵 gonna take you right into the Danger Zone! 🎵 (Sorry, I can’t help myself)
What a start to the Tuamotus! You can call us chicken if you want about that mooring situation. But after all those weeks of hard work (#BoatLife), I’ll be damned if I am going to risk having my boat washed up on a reef! It’s a toll we weren’t willing to pay at this atoll. 🤣
But seriously, if we would have had a northerly wind blowing us out to sea vs on shore, we would have been all about it. But, we didn’t and as Sherlock Holmes would say,
It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger when it is close upon you.
Que será, será. I’m still pleased as punch we were able to see such a rare atoll…even if it was from a distance. I could have exhausted three more drone batteries flying around looking in all those crevasses, it’s such a striking terrain.
And I love a good stormy sunset…especially when they stay at a distance.
What I wouldn’t give to see a time-lapse of this island over a few million years. Watching it slowly emerge from the sea, dry up, turn green and come to life. Water and oxygen are a magical combination!
Speaking of magical combinations…I can’t wait to show the rest of this archipelago. I really thought we had seen the best of French Polynesia between the Marquesas and the Society Islands. But oh how I was mistaken. See you next week!
🙏 THANK YOU!
Sharing this lifestyle and what we learn along the way is possible because of viewers like you. If you like what you see, there are lots of FREE ways you can show your support. Thank you for being a part of the journey.
🍳 Recipe
As promised, here is my corn crepe recipe: https://www.gonewiththewynns.com/tortilla-pancake-corn-crepes
🎥 CAMERA GEAR USED IN THIS VIDEO 📷
- Sony rx10: https://amzn.to/2QAHxwx
- Sony rx0ii: gonewiththewynns.com/product/tiny-travel-camera
- Virb: gonewiththewynns.com/product/virb
- Drone: https://amzn.to/2VQ2pzi
🎶AWESOME tunes:
- Source: http://bit.ly/artlist-gwtw
- Artists: Ian Post, Giants & Pilgrims (Intro Music), Russo & Weinburg, Michael FK, Oliver Michael
⛵SAILING SPECIFIC GEAR
- Chartplotter: https://amzn.to/2xHqxsV
- Garmin InReach: gonewiththewynns.com/product/inreach-satellite-communication-and-tracking
- iPad Mount at Helm: https://amzn.to/2RWRz95
- Sailing/Navigation Apps:
- iNavx: http://bit.ly/2vGgC51
- Active Captain: http://bit.ly/active_captain
- Weather, Messaging & Email: gonewiththewynns.com/product/iridium-go-predictwind
🚣 Dinghy & Accessories
- Dinghy: Highfield CL340 / With Yamaha F25 (love our setup!)
- Magnetic Tricolor Light For Night: gonewiththewynns.com/product/lights-torches
- Cool Underwater Light: navisafe.com/project/navilight-glowtube-114/
- Dinghy Anchor: gonewiththewynns.com/product/mantus-anchor
⛵ SAILING REPORT
To see our full map with interactive pins, click here: gonewiththewynns.com/map
- Nautical Miles Sailed: 126
- Date: February 2019
Al Rousseau
Hey just wanted to thank you guys for sharing your journey! We enjoyed daysailing when my dad had his sailboat. It was great! We are in CT so mostly Long Island sound area. Your journey’s look so beautiful, but not without a huge amount of work! I have some appreciation of what it must be like. Thank you again! Love your photography/videography, music, and you guys! It’s October and getting dark earlier and I love to come home from work and rest watching your journeys. God bless you both! [and the kitty’s too!]
Barry Lee
We are watching a vid from 10 months ago while you are in French Polynesia. Are you still there or are you heading west to New Zealand yet? Where ever you are or going, enjoy and stay safe.
Thanks for the vids.😃💚💛
Curious Minion
Their FP visas expired in May and they’ve been sailing around Tonga. If you want to access their location in real time, receive updates while they’re on passage, attend meet-ups with the Wynns and show your appreciation for the quality of their blog and videos, you could become a Patron. Click over & check it out! https://www.patreon.com/the_wynns
Curious Minion
Enrique Sandoval
Hi! Guys love watching your videos since you were in the RV. I’m getting older but I hope to fallow on your foot steps soon.
Nikki Wynn
Age is just a number and normal is a setting on a washing machine. 😉
Robert
Hey Guys.
all of your videos are fantastic! you have inspired a lot of people including myself, I take delivery of a new Lagoon 46 in January.
I’ve been chartering for 30 years, I just retired and now have the time to do whatever I would like.
quick question, I didn’t see the link about the deck shower, I know how they always break and would love to see what you used.
thanks so much.
take care.
Luke
The scenery is just spectacular! Thank you for sharing your adventure! Continued good luck!
Gale Starr
HI Guys
I don’t know how far off Australia you are but when you hit Sydney my hubby and I would love to pick you up and the cats (of course) and bring you up to our part of the world the beautiful BLUE MOUNTAINS and give you a guided tour. Our house is your for as long as you like to stay.
Cheers Gale
Pam McClure
I love that you show some bad with the good (things falling apart I mean…but hate that it is happening to you). That water is no words to describe. I love following you all so much. And love the little loves you show each other.
Jon
How long did the water stay that brilliant shade of Blue and did the camera fully capture the color or was it more brilliant than the images you shared?
Nikki Wynn
The water stayed that blue until the sun went down! It was beautiful and no, we did not do it justice. Not sure any camera could. 😉
Jon
Thanks!
Roger B
Our cat heard that and he didn’t like it. Hopefully you can now relax by having some fun.
Steve Nicholls
I just so love these posts on your site. Nikki? Jason? Thankyou so much for your work. Most appreciated!!
Steve Nicholls
You keep on doing what you do! Take Curiosity into the dangerous- sortivly (?) zone. No real big risks, mind! Don’t want to lose you. Big risks? Not wanted! It’s a lot of fun for me watching what you guys do out in the world! Seriously!!! And I hope you make it to NZ!
Jeffrey Stenberg
Yes, another great video, storytelling. Love the closeness you to share and more shots of your livestock ( so funny!) Let me know if you need recipes, just kidding. Their meows were also funny at the end. Nice drone shots and colors of the ocean. Just like owning a boat out cabin in Washington state that we visit every other weekend +, I’ve had to learn plumbing, electrical, and how to clear very large trees for fire
proofing. Currently replacing an old large deck. Also fun projects like building a new flag pole with a log and rock wall. Our in the mountains we enjoy,like you, the billions of stars at night.
Have fun, be safe. Thanks for sharing!
nikki wynn
He he, glad you like the livestock joke…the cats didn’t think it was funny but they never laugh at our jokes anyway. 😉 You nailed it, ownership comes with a lot of responsibility. A cabin on the lake or a boat on the water. There is always something to do. Thanks so much for the kind words and for joining us!
Jeffrey Stenberg
Yes, another great video, storytelling. Love the closeness you to share and more shots of your livestock ( so funny!) Let me know if you need recipes, just kidding. Their meows were also funny at the end. Nice drone shots and colors of the ocean. Just like owning a boat out cabin in Washington state that we visit every other weekend +, I’ve had to learn plumbing, electrical, and how to clear very large trees for fire proofing. Currently replacing an old large deck. Also fun projects, building a new flag pole and log and rock wall. Lunch with friends and family in Leavenworth then later seeing the billions of stars at night.
Have fun, be safe. Thanks for sharing!
Steve
Thankyou both for the email contact! Appreciated! Love your videos!
nikki wynn
Our pleasure!
Scott
“It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognize danger when it is close upon you.”
I am curious how that might apply at 2:25 of this video. Perhaps you might clarify that in an upcoming episode. Your past videos (despite your recent brief comment on safety with Nick and Terysa) suggest that your habit of refusing to rope up or even to wear a PFD will continue.
nikki wynn
Sigh. If you recall in the video and post we did cover this…Nick and Terysa said they would do nothing different safety wise from what we are doing. Sailing on a cat is different from a mono. What one sailor considers a perfect day at sea could be another’s worst nightmare. Everyone’s idea of comfort and safety can be drastically different. We do wear our life vests, we do clip in…when we feel it is necessary based on the situation and the conditions. As grown adults and the captains of our vessel, that is our decision to be made. Considering you used the term “rope up” tells me you are most likely not a sailor. That is not meant to be callus, it’s just that if you haven’t been offshore sailing, much less on a similar catamaran I get why it all looks dangerous.
Rob Allen
Great video as usual.
nikki wynn
Happy as always to see you hanging out with us!
Mary
I was wondering if you’d be able to get out of that tight space Jason! It’s a good thing you don’t put on weight with all Nikki‘s good cooking!
Beautiful video! It’s hard to believe there are so many different colors of water in the ocean! It is beautiful! I’m so glad you guys decided to move along! No one would’ve slept that night had you stayed anyway, better to MoveOn!
nikki wynn
Now you have learned the real reason why I don’t fatten him up. 😉 We never do get over all the shades of blue either. I hope we never do.
Lana Jarjis
My family and I started following you on YouTube when you were Rving and now we can’t wait for your videos like you are important part of our family. We pray for you and miss when we don’t hear from you. My two sons are 10 and 6 and have learned From you a lot. You and Jason are amazing, real and awesome. You are living our dream and we feel we are with you. My husband and I are so interested in catamarans since you moved into yours. God bless you and safe travels always. 🤗
nikki wynn
Awe, Lana…that is music to my ears! We see the camera as a window from our world to yours. We look into the lens and see all your names, words of encouragement and sometimes concern. So the feeling is very mutual. Thank you for inviting us into your whole family and for being a part of ours!
Alan Solomon
I liked the video too which is always the case. I have learned your videos are dependable for all around quality.
The feeling that I sensed most and recognized was when you were sitting off that atoll deciding your next move and the FREEDOM you had at hand. I think it was being out there in that wide open space with unknown potential all around you, looking at that island which is something I have never seen before. It gets your stomach churning and your juices going!! I am happy for you, concerned about your safety and jealous I was not there. This island or atoll was a little different that any other.
Safe passage and return,
nikki wynn
Funny how all that empty space invokes the feeling of freedom…endless possibilities. Makes me feel tiny and the world seems huge. Glad you felt a little of that today too!
Stephen Bright
You are doing a great job love watching your YouTube videos if you could could you please inform me when they are posted thanks and happy journeys Stephen
Curious Minion
Since you are commenting on the blog, if you look on the top of every page on the right-hand side there are several buttons for subscribing. You can subscribe to YouTube (remember to click the bell to get notified) and/or you can subscribe to the e-mail list for the blog. (The video notification is the only e-mail you will ever get. No spam!) You can also look for Gone With the Wynns on Patreon to get extra goodies!
Curious Minion
Jim
Intrepid Sailors. Please take care… Safety first always. Thank you for showing me your adventures. Always waiting for Sundays.
Again ..Love the JD hat. Aloha from Moline, Il.
Hunter
Beautiful! Miss you guys!
nikki wynn
Awe, miss you too! Hope to see you and all those lovely ladies soon!
joe
Has your anchor roller seized up again?
nikki wynn
Awe Joe, why you gotta go and say that? Now I have to go check! Just kidding. It gets caught up every great once in a while but it is rolling like a champ for now.
Joe
Good to hear not an additional “to do” item. Enjoying your story/videos from Dallas.
Richard Skaff
Once again, “Thank you”!
Your videography and storytelling are wonderful and very professional.
Again, thank you for sharing your sailing lives. Much enjoyed and appreciated.
nikki wynn
Our pleasure Richard! Your profile pic reminds me very much like my Uncle Mike. And that is a compliment, because he is a good looking man with a heart of gold.
Carol McCarty
Dear Wynns,
So sorry you were unable to really go for it and check out Makatea but oh! how heartbreaking if anything happened to your wonderful “tiny home!!” Good decision no matter what! I’ll have to try the creptilla. Sounds tasty. Thank you both for such wonderful videos. I always look forward to seeing them in my Inbox. Praying for safe travels for you and if you ever get the opportunity try dried sweet cherries with brie! Smooth sailing!
nikki wynn
Thank you Carol! I do love dried sweet cherries so I will make that combo next chance I get.
Michael Magill
Another amazing video with on going comments from you on whether to stay or go you chose to go. Think it was the right chose andyou can get amazing shots from your Drone that normally would not have a chance of getting or showing anyone. I loed the video and love the scenery, look forward to next one and I do realize that you may not be able to send out your weekly letter to us, ut we will be waiting for the next video with anticipation !! Good luck and smooth seas!!
Nikki Wynn
Thank you Michael for both the love and understanding. 😉 I felt the same way with the drone capturing perspectives we wouldn’t get otherwise. That said, I would love to go back one day and explore the land. One more reason to make another loop around the globe!
BethAnn
So good to see you all this week. Missed you last week.
I know it sounds funny, but I like your opening music for walking on my treadmill.
I’m so glad you all are safe and sending video this week.
Stay safe and keep on sailing!
Beth
Nikki Wynn
Ha ha, we liked it for a similar reason. We thought it had a motivating movement feel to it, like we wanted to get up and go.
Ron & Kitty Haddix Woodside Ca
We just love to follow you both, we first met in Half Moon bay in your motor home days. We sold our Monaco and now have a Lance
11.5 foot camper that can go anywhere. We are set to go to sea on a giant ship to Alaska that they do everything is done for you at 77 years were just plain lazy. The effort and joy you have is so fun to follow and love the pictures that you post and feel like were on board with you. We wish you the very best and safety on your adventures in life.
Captain Mark
I loved the opening scenes. All the things that make cruising more fun, broken everything lol. Just finishing a 2 year refit on my cat to head south in a few months . Sorry your fridge packed it in. Mine did too. I’m deciding which ice box conversion to go with now. Nova Kool, Isotherm or Cool Blue. There’s also a guy in Aus who makes them which might be better for you. Fairly straight forward installs you can do yourselves, no refer tech needed anymore.
Nikki Wynn
Sorry to hear you are in the same boat but that is an excellent tip! Thanks for the info, I will look into the Aus guy.
Rosemary
Hi Nikki, we’ve just replaced our old Isotherm with an Ozefridge. Compact unit, easy to install and great support from the maker, always available via phone or email. Also, they will configure the pipes to suit your install and the fridge works a treat too!
Good luck with your travels, my husband and I really enjoy your videos, including those from before your sailing days
David N.
Hello the Wynns, Thanks again for another adventure vid. I truly do enjoy all of them. Great sailing to your new place. I take it that your on your way back home now.. You two take care of your selves and enjoy those crazy storms in the pacific.
Dan & Zena
Always so enjoyable to see your new posts. We just watched with two newbies and they were hooked immediately. With well over a hundred videos to catch up with, they will be able to enjoy their virtual escape from home between the many diaper changes of their grand children. We bask in your lifestyle. Thank you two so much.
Tom Fitch
Good call – trust your gut.
I never got your email last week either.
I am surprised to see all the corrosion on some of your components. I would have thought that manufacturers would only use stainless, pvc, plastic, fiberglass, etc., and not any components that rust like they are. Do they cut corners, or are they just ignorant of the effects of salt air? Great trip, thank you!
Tom Fitch
BTW, what do you do when you miss an anchorage like that or a place to drop anchor? Do you have to go on shifts and stay up all night? Do you sail or motor through the night? You can’t just drift around all night can you? Can you tell I’m not a sailor???
Nikki Wynn
We have to move along…which is what we did here. We continue on to the next destination, which is another night at sea. We do alternate watches at the helm of 3-5 hours. One person is on watch, the other sleeps.
Nikki Wynn
Hey Tom! You didn’t get our email last week because we were at sea and weren’t able to schedule before leaving. So no glitches on that one, just no new post. 😉 Even stainless still rusts in the marine environment. But in our case, its age as much as anything. 14 years of sea air will get too just about anything, including quality stainless.
Jean Lapointe
Love watching your adventures around the world. Stay safe..
Laura
Awesome and oh so funny. Thanks for making my morning. Love you guys and your livestock, too!
Patrick Dwyer
I like watching your videos. Be safe and take care.
Lisa Anderson
Amazing episode! Full of life and beauty- including the things that go wrong and need fixing 🙁
That helps to magnify the beauty of the things that are right.
Good choice of music.
nikki wynn
“Helps magnify the beauty of the things that are right”…now that is a true statement worth repeating!
Jan Dawson
The footage of your video was just stunning. The close ups, the scenery ,the perfect exposure, the slo mos. You guys are doing mini documentarys that are top notch. Always happy on sunday mornings to first thing watch.
Jeanette Brennan
Great job with the video and on the decision not to stay! Smart sailors! Loved seeing the atoll and can’t wait to see the next one. Stay safe and vigilant! Awesome trip! 👍🙏💗
Earl Moore
Another fulfilling video for those of us who follow so eagerly and might I say it was nice to get a peek ‘behind the curtain’ of some of the not so pleasant tasks, events, breakdowns, and decisions full-time sailers often experience. Beautifully well done!
nikki wynn
Thanks for the kudos Earl! It’s a sweet and sour lifestyle but the sweet wouldn’t be as sweet without the sour. Then again, I think that goes for life in general. 😉 So happy you enjoyed the adventure and thanks so much for tuning in each week!